<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains Summary Financial Information extracted from the Form
N-SAR and the financial statements and is qualified in its entirety by
references to such documents.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 021
   <NAME> NUVEEN INNOVATION FUND - CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1000

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUL-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             AUG-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                            80251
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                           89849
<RECEIVABLES>                                     7557
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                    5541
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  102947
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                          2452
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                          442
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                               2894
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        104727
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                              982
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                        (14271)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                          9597
<NET-ASSETS>                                    100053
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                   30
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                    0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                    1027
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          (997)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       (14271)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                         9597
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           (5671)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                           1095
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                        113
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          100053
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              434
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                   1097
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                             14477
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            20.00
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                  (.26)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           3.53
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              23.27
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.86


</TABLE>